Fastening device



M. J. M CLARENCE FASTENING DEVICE Flled March 5 1923 April 13, 1926.

Patented Apr. 13, 1926.";

UNITED STATES PATENT o lcE.

MATTHEW :r. MQCLARENCE, or TAUN'ION, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MnSNnASSIGNMENTS, To EVANS STAMPING & PLATING COMPANY, 01* TAUNTON, MASSA-CHUSETTS, A conP'oRATIoNoF, MASS cHUSETTS.

- FASTENING DEVICE.

ToaZZ whom. it may; concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW J. .Mo-

CLARENCE, a citizen of the United States,

' residin in Taunton in the count of Bristol and State ofMassachusetts,- have in-' vented an Improvement in Fastening Devices, ofwhich the following is alspecification. v

This invention relates to fastening devices adapted tosecnre fixedly andpermanently an attaching plate, or the like, to a second or holdingplate, or the like, and has particular reference to fasteningdevirwsadapted to secure the name plate of an automobile to the radiatorshellthereof, although not necessarily limited to such specific use.

The name plate of an automobile is usuallyattached to the radiator shellmerely by frictional means and, for this purpose, the radiator shellusuallyhas a circular aperture in itand the name plate usually has aboss which is adapted to be atight press fit in the aperture. I

This method of attachment is not entirely satisfactory for itoftenhappens, for various reasons, that the nameplate becomes loose on theradiator shell and drops off, thereby defeating the purpose of the nameplate and, furthermore, exposing an unsightly hole in the radiatorshell.- Furthermore,

"with the method of attachment above de-" scribed, it is possible tosecure the name plate improperly to therachator, shell, as, forinstance,the name plate may be inclined instead of horizontal and may therebypreso constructed and arranged that the name plate may be easilyattached by hand; and when attached may be held'permanently inpositionjthat is so arranged that the name plate cannot be fastened tothe holding plate in other than the desired position; and that is simpleand inexpensive in construction.

A further object is generally to improve the construction of fasteningdevices.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partially broken away, of an automobileradiator having .a name plate attached permanently thereto inaccordancewith-this invention.

Fig. 2 is a section along line.2-2 of Flg. 1.-

Fig. 3 is a section-along line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a'dtailed View of the reverse side of the name plate.

Fig. 5 is an elevation in detail, of the locking aperture in theradiator shell or holding plate.

Fi 6 is'a sectional view of a name late.

Fig. 7 represents a modified form of lockmg aperture in the radiatorshell.

Fig. 8 represents a further modified locking arrangement for the nameplate and radiator shell. I As here shown, the name plate, or attachlngplate, 10 is securedpermanently. to the radiator shell, or holding plate11. Said name plate may be of any suitable shape and. have a suitabledesign or insignia thercon; following customary practice. Preferablysaid plate is raised at its middle pop tiou so that the plate, whenapplied to the radiator shell, is or may be in contact there- .withmainly at the outer edge-portion 12- thereof; and said edge-portion isormay be adapted to fit snugly against .the radiator shell, whereby toenhance the appearance of the plate and shell.

, The fastening means for said plate 10" may include the two relativelyresilient arms 13 which are or may be integrally formed with the' rearconnecting and separating member 14:. Said arms13 are preferably,although not necessarily, relatively closely spaced and have asubstantial width, as illustrated in' Fig. 3, whereby to provide asupport for said'plate against any substantial angular displacementthereof on said radiator shell. I

Said plate 10 may be formed or provided with said'ar'ms 13 in anysuitable manner;

for instance, said arms 13. and connecting and separating member 14 maybe soldered or otherwise secured to the rear face'tlicreof, andpreferably in the middle of the the plane of the edge portion 12 of saidplate.- Preferably said arms are adapted to extend beyond-the plane ofthe ed-geportion 12 and enter a Suitably formed locking aperture in theradiator shell or holding plate 11; and the ends of said arms are or maybe formed with the oppositely laterally ex-.

tended end-extensions or locking projections 15 which,-preferably, areadapted to be approximately perpendicular to said arms.

The radiator shell or plate 11 is formed or provided with a lockingaperture 16 therein; and said aperture is adapted to be.

complemental with the shape and arrangement of said arms 13, and ispreferably, although not necessarily, rectangular in shape. Said shellor plate IO-may be formed or provided with two opposed andapproximately. parallel lips 17 which extend rearwardly from the opposedlong edges of the aperture 16 and the ends thereof are adapted to beengaged by the locking projections 15, which pro ections are adapted tobe held in the rear of and in engaging relation with said lips by theinherent resiliency of said arms; and consequently the nameplate may beheld securely and permanently attached to the shell or attaching late11.

In attaching the name p ate 10 to the shell 11, the arms 13 are insertedin the aperture 16 and pressed forwardly; and the arms may flex inwardlytoward each other to admit such forward movement. When the lockingprojections 15 are moved toward the rear of the shell 11 sufiiciently toclear the rear edge of the lips 17, the tension on said arms 13 isreleased and said arms are moved outwardly by their own spring actionand consequently move said lateral extensions into a posltlon behmd andin engaging relatipn with said lips 17 and, consequently, said lips andprojections serve to hold the name plate permanently to said shellagainst subsequent detachment therefrom.

ranged locking arms ofa name orattaching' Preferably said arms 13 andlips 17 are so proportioned that, when the name plate is lockedpermanently in positionfthe edge 12 of the nameplate lies snugly incontact with the shell or plate 11. Preferably, also, said arms 13 andlips 17 are inclined slightly I inward whereby to facilitate theinsertion of said arms 13 in the shell 11, and-cause said arms to beflexed somewhat in the lock-' ing position thereof whereby the lockingprojections will be held securely in holding engagement with the ends.of said lips.

The locking aperture 16 in the shell or plate 11 is preferablynon-circular inshape and the-arms 13 are preferably so arranged as toengage the holding plate at the edges of the aperture, whereby the nameplate may be held securely inposition against detrimental angulardisplacement on said shell orvplate. Fig. 7 illustrates a modifiedarrangement of shell or plate, wherein a diamond shaped locking aperture16 is provided in the shell, and lips 17 extend outwardly from the sidesof the apertures, and said apertures and lips are adapted to receivecomplementary-arplate not necessarily illustrated.

In Fig. 8 the holding plate 11 isformed' with the circular lockingaperture 16 and the annular outstanding flange 17 surround- 15 may beomitted, as illustrated in Fig; 6. As shown in this figure, theattaching plate 10? is or may be relatively deep at its'middle portionand the arms 13 are or may be relatively long andfflexible. .The shellor plate 11? may be'formed with the locking aperture 16 only, and thelips may be omitted. The locking projections 15 are adapted to beinserted through the aper-' ture and engage the rear-face of the plate11 at the edges of the aperture, and hold the plate securely-andpermanently in position.

Preferably either said arms 13 or said lips 17 are relatively flexiblewhereby to ensure positive locking of -the' arrangement al-' though itis not essential which'are the relatively flexible member's.

It is to 'be noted that, when the radiator shell 11 is assembledon anautomobile, the

rear face thereof is concealed and, therefore, access cannot readily beobtained to the ends of the arms 13. -Said arms are covered, at thefront of the shell, by the name plate'and, consequently, said nameplate, when once applied, cannot readily be removed.

The structure may be otherwise modified without'depa'rting from thespiritof the-invention.

I claim:

The combination of an attaching plate I and a holding plate having arectangular aperture therethrough and lips extending rearwardly from twosides of said aperture,

said attaching plate having two arms con- 1 verging toward each other,extending through said aperture and engaging said holding plate at theedges of said aperture and said lips lengthwise thereof whereby tosecure said attaching plate againstangular displacement, said armshaving lateral endeextensions engaging the ends of said lips wherebysaid attaching plate is fixedly. secured to said holding plate. I

.Intestimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MATTHEW J. HMCGLARENCE.

